In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, a statue of Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity, sits on display at the base of a larger Ekeko statue during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. Here people bring their small Ekeko statues, which cannot be bought for oneself but given as a gift to another, for a blessing from Aymara Indian spiritual guides, and buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year, such as jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. (AP Photo/Juan | ASSOCIATED PRESS

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Believers light his cigarette and leave tiny objects to the statue of the chubby little man with a big mustache who embodies their dreams, hopes and faith.

Dressed in traditional Andean clothing, including a woolen cap tied beneath his chin, this is Ekeko, deity of abundance and prosperity, and is invoked by believers to assure their material well-being during a festival known as Alasitas held every Jan. 24 in La Paz.

Ekeko is also revered in Peru and the high plateau Andean regions of other neighboring countries.

"With much faith, I have bought my car, my little house," Virginia Fernandez said of the miniature items she got. "God mediates to make it come true."

The faithful believe that if you obtain a miniature version of the item you desire that you will get the real version during the year. Tiny houses and cars are among the items that can be bought as well as cellphones, computers, cars, food, and paper dollar bills.

While believers can buy the miniature goods for their Ekeko dolls, someone else has to buy the statue for them.

Believers have their tiny objects blessed at Roman Catholic churches, then again by traditional holy men, who douse them with incense smoke and alcohol.

There is no limit to the dreams expressed during this festival, and the miniature items sold in rows of market stalls in the Bolivian capital include university diplomas, wedding licenses and even divorce certificates.

And for those who don't have a partner? Their friends can give them a tiny rooster or hen made of plaster so they may find their other half in the coming year.

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Bolivia's Alasitas Festival

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In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, people spray alcohol on a large statue of Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity, during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymara word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair. Here people bring their small Ekeko statues, which cannot be bought for oneself but given as a gift to another, for a blessing from Aymara Indian spiritual guides. They also buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year, such as jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, Jhonny Cruz carries his statue of an Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity, during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymara word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair. Here people bring their small Ekeko statues, which cannot be bought for oneself but given as a gift to another, for a blessing from Aymara Indian spiritual guides. They also buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year, such as jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. Cruz said he has faith in the Ekeko because it has brought him employment and cars. This year he bought miniature items that represent silver. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, miniature cars sit on top of miniature fake money at the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymara word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair where people buy miniature items that represent things they hope to attain within the year, like jobs, homes, money, cars, professional titles, and food. The fair's central character is the Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, a vendor sells miniatures pastries at the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymara word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair. Here people buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year, such as jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. The fair's central character is the Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, Dina Torrez holds a miniature store during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymaran word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair where people buy miniature items that represent things they hope to attain within the year. The fair's central character is the Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, vendors fill up the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymara word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair. Here people bring their small Ekeko statues, which cannot be bought for oneself but given as a gift to another, for a blessing from Aymara Indian spiritual guides. They also buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year, such as jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. The fair's central character is the Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, an Aymara Indian spiritual guide blesses a miniature home for Virginia Fernandez during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymara word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair. Here people buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year. Fernandez also bought a miniature car. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, a girl carries a miniature house during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. "Alasitas" is an Aymaran word that means "buy me," and is the name of the annual fair where people buy miniature items that represent things they hope to attain within the year, like jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. The fair's central character is the Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, Gladys Calle carries a statues of Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity, which she bought for her mother during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. Here people bring their small Ekeko statues, which cannot be bought for oneself but given as a gift to another, for a blessing from Aymara Indian spiritual guides, and buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year, such as jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Jan. 24, 2014 photo, a statue of Ekeko, revered as the god of prosperity, sits on display at the base of a larger Ekeko statue during the Alasitas fair in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. Here people bring their small Ekeko statues, which cannot be bought for oneself but given as a gift to another, for a blessing from Aymara Indian spiritual guides, and buy miniature figurines of items they hope to attain within the year, such as jobs, homes, money, cars and professional titles. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)